Display carton



Nov. 19, 1957 G. s. PARKER n 2,813,621

DISPLAY CARTON Filed Aug. 15. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GEORGE SPARKERII Nov. 19, 1957 s, PARKER 11 2,813,621

DISPLAY CARTON Filed Aug. 13, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 /&- I /SO [mu KW INVENTOR.

GEORGE S. PARKER II ATTY.

2,813,621 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 United States Fatent Oiiice 2,813,621 DISPLAY CARTON Application August 13, 1954, Serial No. 449,698

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-4519) The present invention relates to display cartons, i. e., devices that can be used as cartons for shipping articles and later set up for displaying the articles therein.

An object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the foregoing general character, of novel construction.

Another object is to provide a display carton capable of being set up in any of a plurality of display positions.

A further object is to provide adisplay carton having a panel for displaying reading material, such as advertising, and a novel arrangement whereby the articles when supported in displayed position function to dispose the panel for facilitating reading the material thereon.

Another object is to provide a display carton of simple construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carton of the invention set up in display position;

Figure 2 is a fore-and-aft vertical sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the carton with a cover applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view oriented according to Figure 2 showing the carton set up in display position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the carton in a second display position;

Figure 5 is a view oriented according to Figures 3 and 4 showing the carton in a third display position;

Figure 6 is a developed view of one ofthe panels of the carton; and d Figure 7 is a developed view of another panel of the carton.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the carton, without a cover applied to it, is shown as a wholein Figure 1 set up in display position. Generally, the carton includes a base member 12, a first panel 14, which may also be referred to as an article-display panel, a second panel 16, or advertising-display panel, and a cover 18 (Figure 2). The cover is utilized only in shipment of the carton with articles (such as pens) therein and upon receipt of the carton at its destination the cover is discarded and the contents of the carton displayed.

The carton may be made of any suitable material, and is preferably made of cardboard for convenience. The base member 12 is in the form of an open-top box with a bottom element 20 and a surrounding upstanding wall 22. For ease in identification of the carton, and particularly the base member thereof, it may be regarded as having a front edge disposed toward the observer in Figure 1 and to the left in Figure 2, and an opposite rear edge.

The two display panels 14 and 16 are adapted for complete enclosure in the vertical confines of the surrounding wall 22, as shown in Figure 2, whereby the cover 18 may be easily fitted on the carton proper. The cover 18 is of conventional construction including a top plane element 2 v 24 with a depending skirt 26 which fits over the upstanding wall 22.

The first panel or article-display panel 14 has a main section 28 which is of substantially the same outline dimensions as the base member 12 and therefore of the carton. At the forward edge thereof is a hinged flap 3!) turned under and secured .to the bottom element 20 of the carton. At its opposite or rear edge is a hinged flap 32 having laterally spaced projections or legs 34 (Fig. 6) and a central portion 36 of relatively short dimension in foreand-aft direction. The main or central portion 28 of the first panel 14 includes a main or structural layer 38 (Fig. 2) from which the flaps 30 and 32 extend, and superimposed thereon is a second layer 40 secured as by gluing to the first layer. The upper layer 40 includes inverted V-shaped ribs or beads 42 extending transversely across the panel and spaced in fore-and-aft direction for supporting .the articles (pens 44) therein, the ribs 42 having notches 46 for receiving the pens.

The flap 30 of the first panel being secured to the bottom element 20, the panel is hinged at a position at the lower edge of the surrounding wall 22 and adjacent the forward edge of the base member 12. The forward edge of the first panel 14 is therefore adjacent the lowermost point of the carton from which the rear end is inclined upwardly for displaying the articles on the panel to an observer.

The second panel 16 is effectively mounted adjacent the upper edge of the surrounding wall 22 at the rear side edge of the base member 12. This is effected by providing on the panel 16 two serially arranged portions 48 and 50 (Fig. 7), with score lines 49 and 51 between adjacent portions, and .with the portion 48 secured to the upstanding wall 22 and the portion 50 secured to the bottom element 20. The score line 49 is disposed adjacent the, upper edge of thesurrounding wa1l22, whereby the panel 16 is hinged at that point .so as to enable its folding down into the carton at a position closing the top open side of the carton. The panel 16 is provided with notches or slots 52 at its side edges and spaced closely adjacent the hinge score line 49. A tab 54may be secured to the free or rear swinging edge of the first panel 14 for facilitating raising it out of the carton for displaying the articles, after which the tab may be folded under or torn off and discarded. d d d d With the articles, such as the pens 44, in the notches 46 on thedisplay panel 14, this panel may be folded down into. the base member 12 after folding the flap 32 there-- under as shown in Figure 2. In such position the pens 44 project to a position closely adjacent the top open side of the carton and the second flap 16 may then be folded down over the pens and in such position will be disposed substantially level with the top side of the carton in closing position thereover. The cover 18 can then easily be fitted over the carton and the carton with the articles therein shipped. After the carton with the articles therein is received, as in a shop, the cover 18 is discarded, the panel 16 lifted and the panel 14 raised to a display position, according to one of several positions as desired, and the carton positioned for displaying the articles as on a counter.

One of such positions is that of Figure 3.. For effecting this position the second panel 16 is moved to an upright position and the projections or legs 34 are inserted in the notches 52 in the panel 16. The central portion 36 between the legs rests against the surface of the panel 16 and the legs 32 extend through the notches, whereby the two panels are locked together. The notches 52 are disposed at such height in the panel 16 for positioning the rear edge of the panel 14 at the desired level wherein the panel is inclined rearwardly and upwardly. The pens (which are omitted from Figures 3, 4 and 5 for convenience) are thereupon effectively displayed to a customer viewing the carton from the front edge, or the left of Figure 3. The weight of the pens on the panel 14 is transmitted to the panel 16 which tends to deflect the panel 16 rearwardly so that the latter is disposed at an angle to the vertical, and substantially perpendicular to the line of sight of the observer when the carton is in a convenient position on a counter. The front surface of the panel 16, i. e., the under surface, may be provided with advertising material or other inscriptions that may be conveniently read by the observer.

Another manner in which the carton may be displayed with the articles therein is shown in Figure 4. If it is desired not to have the panel 16 in upright position, as for example if sutficient head room is not available, the panel may be folded under the panel 14 whereupon the legs 34 are again projected through the notches or slots 52, but in this instance the flap 32 and legs 34 are disposed substantially vertically and the length of the legs determines the height of the rear edge of the panel 14. The inclination of the panel 14 as displayed in Figure 4 is similar to that of Figure 3.

If it should be desired for any reason not to display the carton in either of the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4, a third position may be availed of. In this position the flap 32 is folded under the main portion 28 of the panel, and the panel then rests directly on the panel 16. In this position also the article-display panel 14 is nevertheless inclined at an angle to the horizontal although at a lesser height than that of Figures 3 and 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the display carton is of simple construction and lends itself to any of a plurality of different display positions and effectively displays the articles contained therein.

I claim:

1. A display carton comprising: a base having a bottom element and a surrounding side wall defining an open top box; a first panel having an article-displaying center portion, a horizontal fixed flap at one edge of said center portion and a swingable flap hingedly mounted at the opposite edge of said center portion, said horizontal fixed flap lying fiat on and being secured to the bottom element at the front side thereof to hingedly secure said center portion to said bottom element .at the bottom of the side wall at said front side of said bottom element, said center portion being of substantially the same shape and area of said bottom element, said center portion having means on the upper surface thereof for supporting articles to be displayed, said swingable flap having a leg projecting from its free edge; a second panel having a vertical fixed flap and a swingable main portion,

said vertical fixed flap lying fiat on and being secured to the side wall at the rear side of said bottom element to hingedly secure said swingable portion to the side wall at the top edge thereof, said swingable portion being of substantially the same shape and area of said bottom element, said swingable portion having an opening therein positioned near the hinged junction of said swingable portion and said vertical fixed flap, to enable reception of said leg in said opening either from the outside to the inside of said swingable portion or from the inside to the outside of said swingable portion; the said first and second panels thereby being positionable to the following three positions(l) a first position with the center portion of said first panel lying fiat on the bottom element and with the swingable portion of said second panel lying within said box and overlying said center portion, (2) a second position with said swingable portion of said second panel lying within said box at an angle with said bottom element and with the center portion of said first panel disposed thereover, and (3) a third position with said swingable portion of said second panel disposed substantially vertically and exteriorly of said box and with said center portion of said first panel disposed at an angle with said bottom element, and with said leg projecting through said opening from the inside to the outside thereof to maintain said portions in said third position.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein with said panels in said second position, said swingable flap of said first panel is folded under said center portion of said first panel to cause said first panel to lie flat against said second panel.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein with said panels in said second position, said swingable flap of said first panel is disposed substantially vertically and said leg projects through said opening from the outside to the inside of said swingable portion of said second panel and on into said box to support said first panel spacedly above said second panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,010,442 Menger Dec. 5, 1911 1,044,400 Lewis Nov. 12, 1912 1,367,600 Hirsch Feb. 8, 1921 1,496,902 Peairs June 10, 1924 1,957,248 Crawford May 1, 1934 2,196,688 Warner Apr. 9, 1940 2,309,753 Cowles et al. Feb. 2, 1943 2,457,812 Epps Jan. 4, 1949 2,704,152 Moore Mar. 15, 1955 

